Description

Carl O. Tangen, editor of the Norwegian Syndicalist Federation's organ "Alarm," protests the conviction of the Scottsboro Boys in the 1933 Decatur trials, presided over by Judge Horton. Tangen argues that this most recent sentence is an expression of racial hatred, declares the Scottsboro Boys' innocence, and calls for their release. The letter also states that the NSF and other Norwegian unions and groups are working towards a boycott of American goods until justice is served.

Translation

Envelope
Oslo Local Unions
Box 2003, Oslo
Telephone 12132

Letter
Norwegian Syndicalist Federation
Organ “Alarm” Box 2003, Oslo
Telephone 12132 Telegram “Federation”
Oslo 4/25 1933
To the Governor of Alabama,
Through the American Embassy in Oslo.
The meeting of comrades in Oslo from the Oslo, Hærums, Nordstrand, Nesodden, Oppegård, and Sörumsands local Unions together with the Oslo Syndicalist Youth Organization wish to express their strongest protest against the upholding of the death penalty against the innocent Negro boys in Scottsboro, AL.
We take the view that since their innocence is proven, they must naturally be granted their freedom.
We see in the upholding of the death penalty only a manifestation of racial hatred and an effort to target differently thinking people, a process which scarcely is in accordance with law and justice.
We demand therefore that these young Negro boys be freed, and if this does not happen, we will to the extent possible work for a boycott of American goods until justice has prevailed.
On behalf of the meeting of comrades,
Carl O. Tangen

Subject

Description

Two Puerto Rican communists plead with the Governor to postpone the execution of the Scottsboro Boys. The letter makes the case for postponement by advocating against the death penalty in all contexts and asks the Governor to show mercy for his own "peace of mind."

Translation

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
June 20, 1932

Honorable Governor of Alabama
Alabama
Sir:
In accordance with the decision of the courts, a group of young, Negro men will be brought to justice in a few days. Sir, in these times when the entire world is agitated and on the verge of a social revolution, this course of action is being taken coldly and without feeling. We do not believe it is correct to send these young men to the electric chair for the crime committed. We do not believe their alleged crime to be as serious as the taking of another human life.
In the name of holy liberty, in the name of the purest human sentiments, in the name of the democracy in which the American people take pride, take pity upon and have mercy with these young Negroes, sir. Postpone their execution so that your conscience does not accuse you, sir, of a crime worse than that which these poor victims may have caused society.
We vigorously protest this cruel act of execution in the name of justice. This action is not human, sir. It is a return to barbarism. It will increase the chaos into which the world is now descending. Hear our plea, not for the good it may do for these unfortunates, but rather for the sake of your own peace.
For the communist group,
Miguel Ortega
Justo Berenguer

The analysis of mind and matter teaches us: <u>firstly</u>, that certain-
ty is but a form of probability, <u>secondly</u>, that crime, vengeance and
the idea of requital root in the same subconscient impulses, and
<u>thirdly</u>, that death means an event in other lifes.
It is to be concluded, that a sentence of death by way of requi-
tal: <u>may be</u> a judicial error,
<u>most probably</u> is a stimulus to criminality,
but <u>in any case</u> is a philosophical absurdity.

Description

This international letter asks that the Scottsboro Boys be given a new trial, based on new facts which have come to light. Standing for "the interests of the working class not only in South Africa but throughout the world," the letter urges the governor to enforce the laws of the United States Constitution with equal justice. The letter was typed by W. H. Andrews, secretary of this committee, chairman of the South African Labour Party, and general secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa.

The Executive Committee of the above Council
had before it last night a communication from the
Crusader News Agency, 50 K. 13th Street, New York,
dealing with the case of the nine young negro workers
who were charged in July with rape and, with the exception
of Olin Montgomery, aged 14, were found guilty and
sentenced to death.
It is strongly urged by the above mentioned
Agency and other organisations which have been in
communication with my committee that certain facts
have come to light since the trial which it is held,
justify a new trial.
In the interests of justice and as an organisation
which stands for the interests of the working class not only
in South Africa by throughout the world, my Council asks
that the sentence be not carried out, but that a new
trial be given the condemned men in order that the claims
of equal justice, on which the constitution of the United
States has been built, may be in the fullest sense met.

To the Governor of the State of Alabama, USA
In person
This executive body of the Organizaciones de Obreros y Campesinos of the State of Nuevo León joins the protests by the world organizations of workers against the legal lynching of the nine innocent young Negroes, which the capitalist system of this nation is attempting to undertake by means of a legal farce that condemns them to electrocution for allegedly raping two white women generally known as prostitutes. As we raise our voices in protest, we cannot help but recall that this is a nation that calls itself “civilized” and venerates the Statue of Liberty. We protest criminal acts such as these, frequently perpetrated by the government of this country in the service of capitalism.
We have come to see that frequently workers are given long prison sentences or are condemned to die in the electric chair through misuse of the legal system. The actual purpose of these actions is to silence the discontent the workers show with the justice system as well as the social system, seeing that currently thousands of workers die of hunger in the principle cities of this country while the rich live in opulence right in front of those who generate their wealth. For this reason, in the face of attempts to carry out the electrocution of the nine Negro workers of Scottsboro, Alabama, USA, not only the workers of the United States but also those of the countries to the South will cry out in their defense. We hope that before entering into a conflict that could have fatal consequences, the Negro workers mentioned above will be set free.
We hope this letter will be answered.

Sincerely
Against Capitalist Oppression
The United Worker/ Farmer Front
Monterrey, Nuevo León August 24, 1931
For the Executive Committee
Secretary General Secretary of Propaganda Secretary of the Organization

Description

Recorded by the secretary of the Farmers Educational League of Wynndel, Canada, this letter is mistakenly addressed to Governor Miller in Birmingham instead of Montgomery. The league protests against the legal lynching of the Scottsboro Boys, and believes them to have been "convicted on prejudiced evidence." The league asks for their release.

Creator

Source

Date

1931-07-14

Format

Letter

Language

English

Coverage

Canada--British Columbia--Wynndel

Transcription

Scottsboro

Wynndel B.C., Canada
July 14, 1931.
Governor B.M. Miller
Birmingham, Ala.
Dear Sir,
We The Farmers Educational League
do emphatically protest against the
legal lynching of the eight negro boys
of Scottsboro.
When these boys were tried in an
atmosphere of rage, hysteria and class
vengeance, and that they were tried as
negroes and not as ordinary white men
was proven by the heredity and
fierceness of the trial
We demand then these boys be
released as they were only convicted
on prejudiced evidence.
Farmer's Educational League
Thos. E. Mountford Sect.

Description

Socorro Rojo Internacional, Sección Salvadoreña, Comite Ejecutivo Nacional—the Salvadoran branch of International Red Aid—demands the immediate release of the Scottsboro Boys, including Eugene Williams, who was sentenced to life imprisonment as a minor. This letter is part of a broad international campaign from Communist International to protest the Scottsboro sentencing at the 1933 Decatur trials, at which Judge Horton presided.

Translation

The National Executive Committee of the Salvadoran branch of the Socorro Rojo Internacional protests in the strongest terms the savage, inhuman and bloody act that is being perpetrated upon the nine young Negro workers who have been accused of the attempted rape of two white women who were travelling by train to Scottsboro. These men were condemned to death, with the exception of the youngest, who received a life sentence.
According to the court, the sentence is to be carried out the 10th of this month. The Militant Salvadoran Proletariat, which counts itself among the ranks of the Socorro Rojo Internacional, in solidarity with the American Proletariat, demands the immediate release of the nine young Negroes.
For the National Executive Committee
f. Ismael Hernandez
Secretary General